Dialogue ‘unacceptable’ if paired with ‘stoking confrontation,’ China tells Japan over Takaichi call

By Saadet Gokce

ISTANBUL (AA) — China on Tuesday said dialogue is “unacceptable” if confrontation continues, a day after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed willingness for talks with Beijing.

“True dialogue is built on the basis of respecting each other and honoring the agreements made,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a news conference in Beijing.

“If anyone just talks about the need for dialogue while keeping themselves busy stoking confrontation, then this so-called ‘dialogue’ is apparently unacceptable,” he added.

“If the Japanese side truly wants to develop the strategic relationship of mutual benefit with China, what needs to do is simple and clear, that is, retract Takaichi’s erroneous remarks on Taiwan, abide by the four political documents between China and Japan and its own political commitments, and take concrete actions to demonstrate its sincerity for dialogue,” Lin said.

Relations between China and Japan have been strained since remarks made by Takaichi in November, when she said a potential Chinese attack on Taiwan could constitute a “survival-threatening situation” for Japan, possibly enabling the exercise of collective self-defense.

Beijing strongly criticized the comments and advised Chinese citizens against traveling to Japan, and it reinstated a ban on Japanese seafood imports.

Takaichi’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party secured 315 seats in the powerful lower house and, along with its coalition partner the Japan Innovation Party, gained a supermajority of 351 seats in Sunday’s election.